Produce grows like nothing I've ever seen in Healdsburg. At the farmer's market, we purchaseed fragrant basil, beautiful butter lettuce and the best bacon ever. After shopping for groceries (we made gnocchi and marina from scratch!), we headed over for a quick bite at The SHED, which I have now declared to be my favorite store in the world. I could spend all day browsing spices, cheeses and cooking paraphernalia while people watching.

I quickly snapped a few photos of my lovely and beautiful friend Julie as the sun was almost completely faded from the sky. We were walking to EAK Ramen (beyond delicious, get the Zebra and thank me later) and I forced her to stand in front of stranger's doors on my charming street in West Hollywood.

A trip to Healdsburg is not complete without a visit to the town square. I dragged my dad along for an afternoon of coffee and shopping - similar to the torture he endured when I was younger (a typical weekend outing was 2-3 hours inside a Barnes & Noble followed by a rom com). Downtown is quaint, cozy, and incredibly walkable; the streets are lined with tasting rooms, amazing restaurants, and immaculately laid out shops. We spent most of our time browsing a couple of bookstores (goodbye, all my Christmas money), and my suitcase ended up about 10 pounds heavier on my return...

P.S. Stealing my subject titles from the Healdsburg Chamber of Commerce website is really working out for me, I think

I always travel to visit my dad's family during the holidays and was happy to have a few days in Healdsburg - the land of wine, and with my family: the time to eat all of the things. I adore the cozy town square with its quaint (and expensive) shops, leaves that actually change colors and narrow roads that lead to dozens of wineries. The wineries in the photos below are Hartford Family Winery and MacRostie (if you're ever searching for a gift for me, I'm fond of their 2014 Goldrock Ridge Pinot Noir...just sayin').

P.S. - the title came straight from their website, and I kinda love it

I'm very lucky to have friends who tolerate me forcing them to wake up earlyish the day after we all attend a crazy Halloween party together so that I can make them waffles and shove them in a car for hours to go apple picking. We headed out to Riley's Apple Farm in Oak Glen where we wandered the corn fields, apple orchards, and enjoyed the clean air. It was quite a treat to see leaves changing color, hang out with horses, and enjoy the fresh air. The field of zinnias was absolute heaven!